Prison canteen (7/004/2021)

Regulation 7/004/2021 issued by the Criminal Sanctions Agency,
3 June 2022

Legal basis: Chapter 2, section 5 of the Act on the Criminal Sanctions Agency

In force: 6 June 2022 until further notice

Repeals: Prison canteen, record no. 4/004/2011

For: Criminal Sanctions Agency

1. Prisoners’ right to make purchases

Prisons have prison canteens where prisoners can buy or order food products and utility articles that are in the range of products of the prison canteen according to an agreed schedule. If keeping a prison canteen is not practical, prisoners must be arranged a possibility to purchase goods in another way. Each prisoner must be able to make purchases once a week.

The prepaid cards given to prisoners for making purchases in the prison canteen are personal and the card or its PIN code may not be given to another person. Giving the prepaid card and its PIN code to another person is against the terms and conditions of the prepaid card and will be recorded as misuse in which case the prisoner is not allowed to take the prepaid card with him or her on prison leave or get it in his or her possession in an open prison or after release. Further regulations on the use of prepaid cards approved by the Criminal Sanctions Agency are in the regulation on the matter (4/004/2021).

Leijona Catering is responsible for the prison canteens. Digital prison canteen services will be developed and expanded in the future.

2. Range of products

The function of the range of products in the prison canteens is to supplement the catering services by providing food products. The goal is to have a uniform range of products nationwide but take into account the different facilities and equipment in different prisons. The range of products is updated regularly and, taking into account the limitations of prison settings, includes a wide variety of food products that support a healthy diet. In addition, the security aspects also affect the range of products. The range of products must include products from all product categories determined beforehand (food products, hygiene products, utility articles), but the range within each product category is limited.

The prison canteens cannot sell medicines or products that contain alcohol. Prisoners can buy nicotine replacement products in the prison canteen. Tobacco, smoking accessories and nicotine products are not sold underage prisoners. For the sale of tobacco and nicotine products, the prison canteen must have appropriate authorisation granted by the municipality where the canteen is located as provided in the Medicines Act (nicotine products) and the Tobacco Act (tobacco products). The policy on the range of products applies to prisons where Leijona Catering is responsible for the prison canteen.

3. Pricing

All products in the prison canteen are chargeable. The price level of the products is equivalent to the market price. The gross margin, which includes logistics and labour costs and the increase of prices, is taken into account in the pricing.

Tobacco, stamps, phone credit and other products with a determined selling price, are sold at the selling price. Prison canteens do not sell on credit.

The Central Administration of the Criminal Sanctions Agency can give further information on the matter: Senior Coordinator Tatja Kivimäki, tel. +358 50 516 1004.

Director General of the Criminal Sanctions Agency Arto Kujala

Senior Coordinator Tatja Kivimäki